Vehicle-spring.



PATENTED NOV. 3, 1903..

F. L. SMITH. VEHICLE SPRING. APPLIOATIOK FILED JULY 28, 1903,

.HO MODEL.

J'Aw ENTO 550591; 'L JM/T'H- ID 0:5 0 0 E lllll II m: Noam: PEYERS cowow-Lima, WASNINGTON. n, cy

UNITED STATES Patented November 3, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK L. SMITH, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO OLDS MOTOR WORKS,OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

VEHICLE-SPRING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 743,402, dated November3. 1903.

Application filed July 28, 1903. Serial No. 167,263. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK L. SMITH, a citizen of the United States,residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Vehicle Springs, ofwhich the following is a specification, reference being had therein tothe accompanying drawings.

The invention relates to vehicle-springs more especially designed foruse in connection with the running-gear of m otor-vehicles.

More particularly the invention relates to that type of running-gearcomprising a rigid central frame for supporting the vehicle-body andmotor and downwardly-inclined springarms secured at their outer ends,respectively, to the forward and rear axles. IIeretofore running-gearsof this typehave been constructed in which the spring-arms extending tothe forward and rearward axles are similar in construction. Such aconstruction while well adapted for a certain class of motor-vehicles inwhich the weight is not excessive is not as satisfactory when used withother and heavier constructions.

It is the object of the present invention to reinforce the rearspring-arms, which carry the greater part of lhe load; and to this endthe invention consists in the construction as hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of a spring, and Fig. 2 isa plan thereof.

A is a rigid frame adapted to support the motor and body of the vehicle.As shown,

this frame is of substantially rectangular form. It may be of anysuitable construction, and the motor and other mechanism (not shown)maybe mounted thereon in any suitable manner.

B and B are springarms extending forward and downward from theframe A,to which said arms are rigidly attached. The outer ends of the arms aresecured to the forward axle O by suitable connections, such as thefittings D. v

E and E are spring-arms extending rearward from the frame A.Thesespring-arms, as well as the arms B and B, are preferably formed ofleaf-springs, which are secured at their inner ends to the side bars aof the frame A. The upper leaves of the two springs extend beneath theframe A only a sufficient distance to form a means of securing the armsin position, but the lower leaf 1) is common to both spring-arms B and Eand extends continuously from one to the other beneath the frame A. Thespace between the ends of the upper leaves may be filled by a suitableblock, such as M, which forms a support for the lower leaf upon theframe. The rear spring-arms E are also inclined slightly downward and attheir outer ends are preferably provided with a return-bend c.

F is a downwardlybowed spring, preferably a semi-elliptic leafspring,which is centrally secured to the rear axle G by any suitable means,such as the fitting H. The spring F is arranged in the same verticalplane as the spring E and at its rear end is connected to the returnbendend 0 of the spring E by means of a link I. The opposite end of thespring F is connected by a link J with a bracket K, which is secured tothe lower leaf 1) of the springs and depends therefrom, having adownwardly-bent portion (1 for connecting with the link J.

With the construction as described it will be understood that the frameAis supported upon the axles through the medium of the spring-arms B andB at the forward end and p at the rear through the medium of both thedownwardly-bowed springs F and the springarms E, thus combining theefficiency of both springs. The links I serve to suspend the outer endsof the arms E from the outer ends of'the spring F,while the linksJsuspend the brackets K from the spring F, and thereby form anintermediate support for the frame A. The spring F not only assists insupporting the frame, but also forms a stronger connection for impartingthe thrust of the driving-axle to the frame. As awhole the springs forman upwardly-bowed spring-reach which extends between the axles andcentrally supports the mechanism and body of the vehicle.

In order to maintain a constant distance between the rear axle and thedrive mechanism carried by the frame A, a pivotal link or distance-bar Lmay be arranged to extend between the said axle and the bracket K. This,as shown, is formed in two sections c and f, threaded at their adjacentends and connected by the turnbuckle g. The section e is pivoted to thebracket K at the point of attachment of the link J, and the section f ispivoted to the fitting H.

Greater rigidity may be given to the con.- nection between the forwardspring-arms B and the fittings D by extending the second leaf of thespring, as well as the lower leaf, above said fitting. A bolt N may beused for attaching the spring to the fitting, and this is provided witha head or shoulder h, which bears against the lower leaf and slidinglyengages with a slot 1' in the second leaf. Asec- 0nd shoulder j on thebolt extends above said second leaf and serves to hold the two leavestogether, while permitting of a slight independent longitudinalmovement.

What I claim as my invention is+ 1. In a vehicle -gear, an upward-bowedspring-reach having one end thereof connected to one of the axles and adownwardlybowed spring supported upon the other axle being connected atits rear end with the end of said reach and at its opposite endconnected to form an intermediate support for said reach.

2. In a vehicle-gear, a spring-reach consisting of a rigid centralportion, spring-arms extending outward and downward from opposite endsof said rigid portion, one of said arms being connected at its free endwith one of the axles, a downwardly-bowed spring centrally supportedupon the opposite axle and connected at its outer end to the outer endof the opposite spring-arm and a bracket depending from said reachintermediate its ends and supported from the inner end of saiddownwardly-bowed spring.

3. In a vehicle-gear, a spring-reach comprising a rigid central portion,leaf-springs extending forward and rearward therefrom and downwardlyinclined, one of said springs being supported at its outer end upon oneof the axles, and the other spring being provided at its outer end witha rigid bend, a downwardly-bowed spring centrally secured to the otheraxle, a link connecting the outer end to said downwardly-bowed springwith the outer end of the leaf spring, depending brackets at a pointintermediate the ends of the reach and a link suspending this bracketfrom the inner end of said downwardly-bowed spring.

4. In a vehicle running-gear, the combination of a centrally rigidframe, pairs of parallel spring-arms extending forward and rearward fromsaid frame and downwardly inclined, the forward pair being connecteddirectly at their outer ends with the forward axle,a pairofdownwardly-bowed leaf-springs centrally secured to the rear axle andarranged in the vertical planes of said rearwardly extending springarms, depending brackets and links connecting the opposite ends of saiddownwardly-bowed springs respectively with said brackets and the outerends of said spring-arms.

5. In a vehicle running-gear, a rigid frame, forwardly and rearwardlyextending and downwardly-inclined spring-arms, each comprising a seriesof leaves secured at their inner ends to the opposite ends of said rigidframe and a lower leafcommon to both springarms and a bracket secured tosaid lower leaf and depending therefrom, a supplemental spring connectedat one end to said bracket and at its opposite end to the outer end ofone of the spring-arms, said supplemental spring being centrallysupported upon one of the axles and the opposite spring-arm beingsupported upon the opposite axle.

6. In a vehicle-spring, the combination with a central rigid portion,ofabracket depending therefrom, a spring portion extending outwardly anddownwardly from said central portion, a downwardly-b0 wed spring beneathand in the plane of said rigid and spring portions, an axle upon whichsaid downwardlybowed spring is centrally supported, links suspendingsaid bracket and the free end of said spring portion respectively fromopposite ends of said downwardly-bowed spring, and a link ordistance-bar between said axle and said bracket.

7. The combination with a vehicle-axle, of a leaf-spring supportedthereon at one end, a bolt for securing said spring to the axle, havinga shoulder bearing upon the lower leaf of said spring, a second leafslotted to receive said shoulder, and a second shoulder on said boltbearing on said second leaf.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FREDERICK L. SMITH. l Vitnesses:

H. 0. SMITH, P. M. IIULBERTJ

